Globetrotter Tracey asked the Beetle to pass on the
following information about the change in visa/passport for
travel to the USA. She says: “I’m sure most Globies
will know this but a lot of folks have been asking me about
it and are quite confused by what they’ve heard in the
press. So thought this would be a good thing to put in the
newsletter with the relevant websites”.

The increased awareness and perception in the US of the
terrorist threat has led to new security rules –
causing a flurry of recent press coverage. Potential
problems for travellers will not arise until 26 October
this year. From that date travellers with passports issued
on or after the 26th October 2004 who were previously
eligible to enter the USA under the Visa Waiver Programme
(VWP) will require a visa.

The exception WOULD be those individuals holding a
Machine-Readable Passport (MRP) containing ‘biometric
identification data’ but these will not become available
until at least June 2005 in the UK.

It is therefore recommended that anyone who is likely to
need a new passport in that period of time i.e. between
this October and the middle to end of 2005 – should
apply for a new passport before October this year. The UK
authorities are willing to do this for anyone who has up to
nine month’s validity on their existing passport.
And, this would be less challenging than having to apply
for a US Visa. ABTA is suggesting this course as being
easier and cheaper than applying for a US visa. Full
details about Visa requirements are contained on the US
Embassy web site – US Visa Requirements

Visas are expensive; £65 and individuals have to apply
in person, to either the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square,
London or Belfast. You can make an appointment by writing
in or phoning a premium phone line. The American
Authorities are being particularly selective, as they have
always been, about whom they accept. Anyone who has ever
been arrested will not be accepted – without a letter from
the Police explaining why, and for any reasons to then be
considered acceptable.